Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
1401 New York Avenue, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005

202-662-8600

June 8, 2000

Dear Senator:

I am writing on behalf of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to urge you to support the Kennedy/Specter Amendment to the Department of Defense Reauthorization Bill. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is a non-partisan, non-profit, national civil rights legal organization formed by leading members of the nation's bar in 1963 at the request of President Kennedy to address racial discrimination. The Kennedy/Specter Amendment contains provisions of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act that are critical to preventing hate-motivated violence and protecting the civil rights of all Americans. It is imperative that the Senate pass hate crimes prevention legislation before it adjourns for the year and this amendment might be the last chance to do so. Such legislation is essential to close gaps in current law and expand federal jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute hate crimes B including those that occur because of the victim's gender, disability or sexual orientation.

Yesterday marked the two-year anniversary of the brutal murder of James Byrd, Jr., who was violently dragged to his death at the hands of those preaching racial hatred. Today, the United States Senate has the unique opportunity to act to prevent this hate-motivated violence as they consider the Kennedy/Specter Amendment. I urge you to heed the memory of that horrific event and seize upon the opportunity this Amendment presents to pass meaningful hate crimes legislation.

The Kennedy/Specter Amendment is an essential ingredient to our anti-discrimination laws that will assist state and local law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting senseless and violent acts carried out on individuals solely because of their identities. It allows states to continue to play the primary role in the prosecution of bias-motivated violence and assists those efforts by enhancing federal and state cooperation. While its provisions maintain the critical role of the states it also gives the federal government sufficient jurisdiction to address those limited cases where local authorities are either unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute.

The Kennedy/Specter Amendment is a reasonable and fair means to remedy a gap in existing federal jurisdiction. At the same time, it strengthens federal law without compromising principles of federalism and the ability of state and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute bias-related crimes where state law has sufficiently addressed them. In essence, this amendment ensures that victims of hate crimes do not fall between the cracks.

The Lawyers' Committee believes that this legislation is a critical step to protecting millions of Americans from the hate and racial violence that is escalating in our society. It is incumbent upon the Senate to pass the provisions of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act before it adjourns this year and we urge your support of the Kennedy/Specter Amendment as the means to do so. As we pass the tragic anniversary of James Byrd's death, the devastating violence increasingly visited upon the citizens of our nation because of their identities must finally be addressed.

Sincerely,

Barbara R. Arnwine

Executive Director

top

[back to Hate Crimes]